Kerry ready to party as crowds return to Listowel - and Sam will be there too

Race week in Listowel has always been celebratory. In days of old, it was a joyous occasion for the farmers of Kerry, Munster and further afield, a well-deserved holiday after the hard labour of the annual harvest.

A seven-day affair since 2002, the modern-day festival has carved a distinctive niche in Ireland's racing calendar.

This year, there's double cause for celebration. The pandemic kept the crowds away for the past two years. Now they're set to return to fill the stands and the enclosures. Later in the day, the pubs and restaurants of the town will do good business.